What Is Tarot Really?

Understanding the cards, the myths, and the real magic of connection

The Truth About Tarot

Tarot has long held an air of mystery — a deck of cards wrapped in silk, whispered over by candlelight, and often misunderstood as something secret or foreboding.

In truth, tarot is neither superstition nor sorcery. It’s a tool for reflection — a mirror for the mind and spirit. Each card tells a story through symbols, archetypes, and imagery that echo the patterns of human experience.

When we read tarot, we’re not predicting fate or conjuring forces. We’re entering a conversation between our intuition and the language of symbol. Tarot is a practice of awareness — seeing more clearly, feeling more deeply, and connecting with the wisdom we already hold within.

A Brief History of the Cards

Despite its mystical reputation, tarot began simply — as a game of cards in 15th-century Italy. These early decks, known as tarocchi, were lavishly illustrated for noble families and used for entertainment.

It wasn’t until the 18th and 19th centuries that mystics began to explore the deeper meaning behind the imagery, connecting tarot with Hermetic philosophy, numerology, astrology, and Kabbalah.

The most enduring system came from the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, whose members — including Arthur Edward Waite — viewed the tarot as a symbolic representation of the soul’s journey toward enlightenment.

In 1909, artist Pamela Colman Smith brought that vision to life under Waite’s guidance in the Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot, now considered the foundation of modern tarot study. Every colour, posture, and symbol was chosen with purpose, creating a visual language of spiritual psychology that remains unmatched in clarity and depth.

The Real Purpose of Tarot

Think of tarot as a bridge between intuition and reflection — a visual dialogue with the self. When we draw cards, we’re using image and metaphor to access the subconscious mind.

Each card’s symbolism becomes a mirror, helping us interpret what’s happening beneath the surface of thought. Psychologist Carl Jung called this the language of the archetype — universal patterns that shape our emotions, choices, and sense of meaning.

Tarot doesn’t dictate destiny; it reveals possibility. It doesn’t predict the future; it clarifies the present so we can shape our own path more consciously.

Tarot Myths & Superstitions — Debunked

Centuries of mystique have given rise to plenty of myths about how tarot should (or shouldn’t) be used.

Let’s clear a few up:

• “You must be gifted your first deck.”

  A lovely myth, but untrue. Choosing your own deck is a meaningful act of intention. The deck that calls to you is the one meant for you.

• “No one else should touch your cards.”

  A personal preference, not a rule. Tarot decks aren’t spiritually fragile — they’re tools. If you enjoy sharing them, do; if you prefer to keep them private, that’s equally valid.

• “You must wrap your deck in silk or store it a special way.”

  Ritual adds beauty but not necessity. Keep your cards where you feel calm and connected — a wooden box, a pouch, or simply your desk drawer. What matters is respect, not superstition.

• “Certain cards are bad or unlucky.”

  There are no “bad” cards — only misunderstood ones. Death, The Tower, or The Devil often symbolise endings, awakening, or awareness, not doom. Tarot isn’t about fear — it’s about truth and transformation.

• “Tarot invites spirits or bad energy.”

  Tarot doesn’t summon anything external. It reflects what’s already within you. Ethical, grounded readers use tarot as a contemplative, healing practice — a way of connecting to self, not conjuring forces.

What Deck Should You Start With?

For anyone learning tarot seriously, it’s best to begin with a traditional, symbolically accurate deck — one that preserves the visual system created by Pamela Colman Smith and the Golden Dawn tradition.

These decks follow a consistent structure of 78 cards (22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana) and retain the classic symbolism essential to understanding the deeper meanings of colour, number, and archetype.

Recommended beginner decks:

• Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot (1909) — The cornerstone of tarot study. Every symbol was designed to convey spiritual psychology and intuitive truth.

• Universal Waite Tarot — A softly recoloured version of the classic, excellent for beginners and teachers alike.

• Golden Universal Tarot — Faithful to Rider–Waite structure with rich golden highlights.

• The Golden Tarot by Kat Black — Based on Renaissance art and layered with traditional symbolism; perfect for those who want a sacred, art-historical feel.

These decks maintain the Golden Dawn correspondences between the elements, astrology, and numerology — the framework on which most tarot interpretation is built.

Start with the classics. They teach you how to read symbolically, intuitively, and ethically — the way tarot was meant to be understood.

Connecting With Your Deck

When you open a new deck:

1. Look at every card slowly. Notice which images move you and which make you curious or uneasy — both reactions are part of learning.

2. Shuffle mindfully. Shuffling clears mental clutter and sets intention — no need for ritual cleansing beyond your own focus.

3. Ask simple questions. “What energy surrounds me today?” or “What lesson am I learning?”

4. Reflect, don’t rush. Tarot speaks through metaphor. Give your mind space to interpret, not control.

   
   

Connection grows through familiarity, not ritual. Handle your cards often, treat them with care, and they’ll begin to feel like an old friend — responsive, wise, and reassuringly honest.

Tarot as Reflection, Not Prediction

Many people come to tarot during times of uncertainty — when life feels unpredictable or painful. The temptation is to ask, What will happen?

But tarot’s real power lies in asking, What’s happening within me right now?

By bringing subconscious patterns into awareness, the cards give us insight into how we co-create our experiences.

Tarot doesn’t replace decision-making; it strengthens it. The more we understand our emotions, motives, and blind spots, the freer our choices become. That’s the real magic of tarot: not prophecy, but presence.

“Tarot doesn’t predict your future — it helps you see your present with clearer eyes.”

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Bibliography

The books below are available to purchase via the links.

• Dummett, M. The Game of Tarot. Duckworth, 1980.

• Kaplan, S. The Encyclopedia of Tarot, Vol. I–IV. U.S. Games Systems, 1978–1990.

• Place, R. The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination. Penguin, 2005.

• Nichols, S. Jung and Tarot: An Archetypal Journey. Samuel Weiser, 1980.

• Waite, A. E. The Pictorial Key to the Tarot. Rider, 1910.

• University of Melbourne, Contemplative Studies Centre (2023). Symbolic Thinking and Mindfulness-Based Imagery.

  https://psychologicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au/CSC